The 99th PGA Championship

Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina, 7,600 yards, Par 71

Defending champion: Jimmy Walker at Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield Township, New Jersey, -14

TV: Thursday-Friday, 12-6 PM CT, TNT; Saturday-Sunday, 10 AM-1 PM CT, TNT: 1-6 PM CBS.

Weather: Rainy at times, but the course is perfect, so it’ll work out well. Should be a classic Sunday regardless of the weather.

Key Holes:

The Green Mile, Numbers 16-18. The toughest 3 hole stretch in golf.

No. 16, 506 yards, par 4. It’s a demanding hole that requires accuracy on both the drive and the second shot. Dogleg right requires a cut off the tee with a lake covering the left side of the fairway and the lake guarding the left side of the green. Par here sounds good.

No.17, 223 yards, par 3. This is nearly an island green where bogeys can be more prominent than birdies. This is a survival stretch of 3 holes.

No. 18, 494 yards par 4. The toughest finishing hole on tour in 2016. There is a creek that runs along the entire left side of the hole, so any kind of draw and you better have your waders in the bag. Only one bunker on the right side of the fairway, but a player would rather be in that than the 2 1/4 inch high rough surrounding it. The approach has the creek on the left and a large, expansive green, like many are on this course, with problems on the right getting up and down if the competitor doesn’t hit the green on his approach. Should be a classic major finishing hole on Sunday.

Winner

Sir Nick Faldo said last week at the end of the Firestone, “Watch out for the relaxed, confident golfer.” That’s what this guy is right now. He was 1st in strokes gained tee to green, 1st in strokes gained total and tied for 1st in greens in regulation at the Firestone last week. A lot of people are picking Rory to win this and capture his fifth major, while others are picking Spieth to win it and become the youngest player to ever win the career Grand Slam. But this young guy finished tied for 11th at the Masters, tied for 2nd at the U.S. Open after putting on a masterful round Sunday which was only eclipsed by Brooks Koepka, and he finished tied for 14th at the Open Championship. I really like the way he’s trending. He finished last Sunday’s round with an eagle, 7 birdies and no bogeys on his way to shooting 61 and winning the WGC Bridgestone by 5 shots. I’m going with the 25 year old from Ehime, Japan. He’s the hottest player in the world. I definitely believe in him holding the Wanamaker Trophy Sunday evening in the Queen City.

Hideki Matsuyama

Darkhorse

Tony Finau

He’s a bomber and a super putter. Like the 27 year old from Salt Lake City to have a real shot here.